These statements are part of the ESU #17 Staff Perception Survey that was conducted on August 13, 2012. Questions that are in Bold Italics are also included in the School Stakeholder Survey.
Any question receiving a score below 3.90 is highlighted in red. Information About Me
Gender (Male, Female)
Race (American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, White, Two or more races)
Ethnicity (Hispanic, Not Hispanic or Latino)
Role (Support Staff, Teacher, Administrator, Other)
Experience Level (Less than 1 year, 4-10 years, 11-20 years, More than 20 years)
The following questions are answered on a 1-5 scale: Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Neutral, Agree, Strongly Agree.
Standard 1 – Purpose and Direction
1. The agency purpose statement is formally reviewed and revised with involvement from stakeholders. 1.1 (4.39) Staff Meetings 2. The agency purpose statement is communicated to and understood by all stakeholder groups. 1.1 (4.22) Agency Outreach
3. The agency’s purpose statement is based on shared beliefs that guide the types of programs and services provided to schools/systems. 1.2 (4.48) Department Descriptions | Staff Meetings 4. Agency leaders and staff share a commitment to learning, use and share their knowledge and skills, and conduct themselves in a professional manner. 1.2 (4.30) Board Policy Article 4, Sections 10E and 11D
5. Agency leaders are committed to a continuous improvement process that directly supports teaching and learning. 1.3 (skipped) Improvement Plan
6. Agency stakeholder groups work collaboratively to build support and ownership of the agency’s purpose and direction. 1.3 (4.17) Profile | Staff Meetings
7. Agency staff regularly develop, monitor, and evaluate agency improvement action plans. 1.3 (4.35) Improvement Plan | Staff Meetings
8. Agency action plans are designed to impact and improve teaching and learning. 1.3 (4.35) Focus Interviews | Improvement Plan
Standard 2 – Governance and Leadership
9. The agency’s purpose statement is supported by policies and practices adopted by the governing body. 2.1 (4.30) Board Policy Article 1, Section 1
10. The agency’s governing body conducts the business of the agency in an efficient and effective manner. 2.2 (4.39) Board Agendas and Minutes | Meeting Schedule
11. The agency’s governing body maintains a distinctions between its roles and responsibilities and those of agency leadership. 2.3 (4.32) Board Policy Article 1, Section 2B Board and Article 1, Section 6C Administrator
12. All agency personnel align decisions and actions regarding continuous improvement with the agency’s purpose. 2.4 (4.04) Department Descriptions | Improvement Plan
13. All agency personnel encourage, support, and expect each other to maintain high professional standards. 2.4 (skipped) Board Policy Article 4, Section 10E Certificated, Section 11D Non-Certificated 14. All agency personnel strive to improve conditions that support student performance. 2.4 (4.26) Department Descriptions | Improvement Plan
15. Innovation, collaboration, shared leadership, and rigorous professional growth reflect the culture of the agency. 2.4 (4.13) ESUPDO and NNNC Networks | Leadership Team | Staff Meetings 16. The agency’s leaders communicate effectively with all stakeholder groups. 2.5 ESU Board| Advisory Council (3.96) Agency Outreach | Department Reviews | Focus Interviews 17. The agency’s leaders support an innovative and collaborative culture. 2.5 (4.35) ESUPDO and NNNC Networks | Leadership Team
18. The agency provides meaningful leadership roles for stakeholders. 2.5 (4.09) Leadership Team
19. Staff supervision and evaluation processes are conducted with all agency staff on a consistent basis. 2.6 (3.48)
20. Staff members who have a teaching role are evaluated on criteria to improve teaching and learning. 2.6 (3.91) Employee Evaluation Form
21. The results of staff supervision and evaluation processes are used to improve professional practice throughout the agency. 2.6 (3.70)
Standard 3 – Teaching and Assessing for Learning 22. The agency provides adult learners with equitable, relevant and targeted learning experiences. 3.1 (4.27) Online Registration Database 23. Learning experiences prepare adult learners to be successful. 3.1 (4.41) Adult Learner EvaluationsSurvey & Results 24. Learning activities are individualized to meet the needs of all adult learners. 3.1 (4.23) Adult Learner EvaluationsSurvey & Results | Perkins IV Grant 25. Agency programs and services are monitored and adjusted periodically, based on data and examination of professional practice. 3.2 (3.86) Department Reviews | Focus Interviews | School Stakeholder Survey
26. There is a process in place to ensure alignment with the agency’s purpose and improvement goals when programs and services are reviewed or revised. 3.2 (3.95) Service Contract | Technology Contract 27. Agency staff consistently utilize instructional strategies and interventions that engage practitioners in their learning. 3.3 (4.14) Adult Learner Evaluations 28. Adult learners apply knowledge and skills in addition to using technologies as learning tools in their learning. 3.3 (4.27) Adult Learner Evaluations | Perkins IV Grant
29. Agency staff participate in collaborative learning communities on a regular basis. 3.4 (4.27) ESUPDO | Staff Meetings
30. Agency staff frequently collaborate with constituent schools/systems. 3.4 (4.27) Advisory Council | Focus Interviews | Itinerant/Contracted Staff 31. A formal process is in place that promotes productive discussion with constituent schools/systems regarding the delivery of services and programs. 3.4 (4.13) Advisory Council | Department Reviews
32. Agency staff examine survey data regarding effectiveness of agency programs and services. 3.4 (4.27) Department Reviews | School Stakeholder Survey | Staff Meetings 33. Collaboration between the agency and constituent schools/systems results in improved delivery of programs and services. 3.4 (4.17) Focus Interviews
34. A professional learning program is in place to build capacity among all staff members. 3.5 (3.74) Board Policy Article 4, Section 10D
35. The agency’s professional learning program is aligned with the agency’s purpose and direction. 3.5 (3.83)
36. The agency’s professional learning program is individualized based on an assessment of needs of the agency and the individual. 3.5 (3.59)
37. The agency’s professional learning program is evaluated for effectiveness in staff performance and agency effectiveness. 3.5 (3.67) 38. Agency personnel use data to identify unique learning needs of its constituent schools/systems. 3.6 (4.05) NeSA State Tests | NWEA MAP Assessments 39. Agency personnel stay current on research related to effective schools/systems and provide/coordinate related learning support services to all schools/systems. 3.6 (3.91) Advisory Council | Agency Outreach
Standard 4 – Resources and Support Systems
40. The agency has policies, processes, and procedures to ensure that agency leaders hire, place, and retain qualified professional support staff. 4.1 (4.26)
41. The agency has a formal process in place to support new staff members in their professional practice. 4.1 (3.78)
42. Agency leaders use a formal, systematic process to determine the staffing positions needed to support constituent schools/systems, educational programs, and continuous improvement throughout the agency. 4.1 (4.13)
43. Material and fiscal resources focus on supporting the purpose and direction of the agency’s operations. 4.2 (4.39) Annual Report
44. Fiscal resources are available to fund all staffing positions critical to achieving the purpose and direction of the agency. 4.2 (4.48) 45. Multiple funding options are pursued to secure material and fiscal resources to meet the needs of all constituents and improve agency effectiveness. 4.2 (4.48) School Stakeholder Survey 46. Material and fiscal resources are allocated so that all constituents have equitable learning experiences and support. 4.2 (4.43) School Stakeholder Survey 47. The agency maintains facilities that contribute to a safe environment. 4.3 (4.39) School Stakeholder Survey | Security and Crisis Management Plan
48. The agency promotes a wellness program for all staff. 4.3 (4.91) Wellness Program Website
49. The agency has a strategic planning process to manage budgets, facilities, and equipment. 4.4 (4.62) Structure and Infrastructure Planning | laptop rotation schedule 50. The agency provides, coordinates, and evaluates the effectiveness of programs and services. 4.5 (4.04) Adult Learner Evaluations | Department Reviews | School Stakeholder Survey 51. The agency has a qualified technology staff to meet the technological needs of the agency and the schools/systems it serves. 4.6 (4.67) School Stakeholder Survey 52. The agency provides a modern, fully functional technology infrastructure to meet the teaching, learning, and operational needs of all stakeholders. 4.6 (4.50) School Stakeholder Survey
53. Agency personnel routinely collect data concerning needs, and use the resulting data to develop and implement a technology plan to continuously improve technology services, infrastructure, and equipment. 4.6 (4.26) Technology Plan
Additional Questions 61. What do you like BEST about our agency?
The willingness of staff to work together to create a positive and productive atmosphere for our schools.
Great services! It feels great to be a part of an organization that offers meaningful contributions to educational institutions.
Flexibility, direction, communication
Being allowed to expand knowledge by attending workshops and trainings. Then having the opportunity to utilize this information in multiple settings due to serving multiple districts.
I like the freedom of usually being approved to attend workshops that further enhance my learning.
The agency feels like a family.
Open to new ideas, always pursuing the latest technology
The positive, respectful attitude of the individuals and their motivation to work together to improve student success.
The friendly environment and a willingness to help each other. We are encouraged to attend workshops and order materials that we need.
Everyone works well together to support the schools, students and agency.
I like the fact that we are different than a lot of ESU's. We have more of a personal relationship with our schools and offer a lot of services to our schools than other ESU's out there. I think it is because we have limited number of school, staff and students that we are working with, so that enables us to be able to be more 1 on 1 with our schools.
Strives to meet the needs of each school without restrictions
Our small size (5 school districts) allows us to be very flexible in meeting school district needs, sometimes on a very short time frame. We know each other and we work well together.
Technology, administration and colleagues
I believe our agency is on a very professional level. It stays current with the technology changes and offers a variety of professional growth to educators in the 4 county area.
It is a good working environment. People respect each other and listen to questions, etc.
"There is a professional level of autonomy that allows independence in practice."
Staff are strongly encouraged to attend professional development trainings to continually improve performance.
an administrator that doesn't micro-manage
Opportunities are available for improvement, if an individual takes advantage of them.
62. What do you like LEAST about our agency?
Not being able to consult and brainstorm with all individuals within the ESU due to distance and scheduling. It would be nice to collaborate with ESU staff in all buildings to discuss and brainstorm.
I don't like that we are spread so far apart that we don't get enough chances to bounce ideas off of each other.
Our location in the state.
The miles that it covers ( which is unavoidable) but does lead to certain difficulties with employees getting together to share.
Distance between schools and staff.
The miles that we travel to our schools.
Difficulty in offering a variety of training due to location restrictions
Because of our size, we don't always have access to specialists in certain areas.
I really have no complaints with our agency.
Sometimes the distances traveled for meetings, etc. are time consuming.
Communication could be better between departments.
"Having to sometimes make decisions based on politics rather than what might be best for the learner. (However this would occur in any and all educational agencies)"
To many scattered approaches to services. Need to combine our efforts to be more productive together.
63. What is one suggestion that you would like to offer to improve our agency?
Better communication between all departments. There feels like a large separation and distinction between different departments and functions and not much cross communication or involvement. It's hard to feel like a fully functioning staff when you only see or hear from individuals 1 day of the year.
More communication.
More frequent teacher evaluations.
Cant think of any.
More self promotion to schools regarding all activities and services provided by the unit
All staff members need to be evaluated from the viewpoint of agency improvement and what we need to do in order to better meet the changing needs of our schools.
I believe the agency is always one step ahead of the population. I have nothing to suggest for improvement.
One suggestion is that the different groups would get together face to face once or twice a year to collaborate and share workshops. Perhaps share information on new testing materials.
Keep doing what we are doing
We need a formal evaluation practice so that all employees work towards improvement.
Any question receiving a score below 3.90 is highlighted in red.
Information About Me
The following questions are answered on a 1-5 scale: Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Neutral, Agree, Strongly Agree.
Standard 1 – Purpose and Direction
1. The agency purpose statement is formally reviewed and revised with involvement from stakeholders. 1.1 (4.39)
2. The agency purpose statement is communicated to and understood by all stakeholder groups. 1.1 (4.22)
3. The agency’s purpose statement is based on shared beliefs that guide the types of programs and services provided to schools/systems. 1.2 (4.48)
4. Agency leaders and staff share a commitment to learning, use and share their knowledge and skills, and conduct themselves in a professional manner. 1.2 (4.30)
5. Agency leaders are committed to a continuous improvement process that directly supports teaching and learning. 1.3 (skipped)
6. Agency stakeholder groups work collaboratively to build support and ownership of the agency’s purpose and direction. 1.3 (4.17)
7. Agency staff regularly develop, monitor, and evaluate agency improvement action plans. 1.3 (4.35)
8. Agency action plans are designed to impact and improve teaching and learning. 1.3 (4.35)
Standard 2 – Governance and Leadership
9. The agency’s purpose statement is supported by policies and practices adopted by the governing body. 2.1 (4.30)
10. The agency’s governing body conducts the business of the agency in an efficient and effective manner. 2.2 (4.39)
11. The agency’s governing body maintains a distinctions between its roles and responsibilities and those of agency leadership. 2.3 (4.32)
12. All agency personnel align decisions and actions regarding continuous improvement with the agency’s purpose. 2.4 (4.04)
13. All agency personnel encourage, support, and expect each other to maintain high professional standards. 2.4 (skipped)
14. All agency personnel strive to improve conditions that support student performance. 2.4 (4.26)
15. Innovation, collaboration, shared leadership, and rigorous professional growth reflect the culture of the agency. 2.4 (4.13)
16. The agency’s leaders communicate effectively with all stakeholder groups. 2.5 ESU Board| Advisory Council (3.96)
17. The agency’s leaders support an innovative and collaborative culture. 2.5 (4.35)
18. The agency provides meaningful leadership roles for stakeholders. 2.5 (4.09)
19. Staff supervision and evaluation processes are conducted with all agency staff on a consistent basis. 2.6 (3.48)
20. Staff members who have a teaching role are evaluated on criteria to improve teaching and learning. 2.6 (3.91)
21. The results of staff supervision and evaluation processes are used to improve professional practice throughout the agency. 2.6 (3.70)
Standard 3 – Teaching and Assessing for Learning
22. The agency provides adult learners with equitable, relevant and targeted learning experiences. 3.1 (4.27)
23. Learning experiences prepare adult learners to be successful. 3.1 (4.41)
24. Learning activities are individualized to meet the needs of all adult learners. 3.1 (4.23)
25. Agency programs and services are monitored and adjusted periodically, based on data and examination of professional practice. 3.2 (3.86)
26. There is a process in place to ensure alignment with the agency’s purpose and improvement goals when programs and services are reviewed or revised. 3.2 (3.95)
27. Agency staff consistently utilize instructional strategies and interventions that engage practitioners in their learning. 3.3 (4.14)
28. Adult learners apply knowledge and skills in addition to using technologies as learning tools in their learning. 3.3 (4.27)
29. Agency staff participate in collaborative learning communities on a regular basis. 3.4 (4.27)
30. Agency staff frequently collaborate with constituent schools/systems. 3.4 (4.27)
31. A formal process is in place that promotes productive discussion with constituent schools/systems regarding the delivery of services and programs. 3.4 (4.13)
32. Agency staff examine survey data regarding effectiveness of agency programs and services. 3.4 (4.27)
33. Collaboration between the agency and constituent schools/systems results in improved delivery of programs and services. 3.4 (4.17)
34. A professional learning program is in place to build capacity among all staff members. 3.5 (3.74)
35. The agency’s professional learning program is aligned with the agency’s purpose and direction. 3.5 (3.83)
36. The agency’s professional learning program is individualized based on an assessment of needs of the agency and the individual. 3.5 (3.59)
37. The agency’s professional learning program is evaluated for effectiveness in staff performance and agency effectiveness. 3.5 (3.67)
38. Agency personnel use data to identify unique learning needs of its constituent schools/systems. 3.6 (4.05)
39. Agency personnel stay current on research related to effective schools/systems and provide/coordinate related learning support services to all schools/systems. 3.6 (3.91)
Standard 4 – Resources and Support Systems
40. The agency has policies, processes, and procedures to ensure that agency leaders hire, place, and retain qualified professional support staff. 4.1 (4.26)
41. The agency has a formal process in place to support new staff members in their professional practice. 4.1 (3.78)
42. Agency leaders use a formal, systematic process to determine the staffing positions needed to support constituent schools/systems, educational programs, and continuous improvement throughout the agency. 4.1 (4.13)
43. Material and fiscal resources focus on supporting the purpose and direction of the agency’s operations. 4.2 (4.39)
44. Fiscal resources are available to fund all staffing positions critical to achieving the purpose and direction of the agency. 4.2 (4.48)
45. Multiple funding options are pursued to secure material and fiscal resources to meet the needs of all constituents and improve agency effectiveness. 4.2 (4.48)
46. Material and fiscal resources are allocated so that all constituents have equitable learning experiences and support. 4.2 (4.43)
47. The agency maintains facilities that contribute to a safe environment. 4.3 (4.39)
48. The agency promotes a wellness program for all staff. 4.3 (4.91)
49. The agency has a strategic planning process to manage budgets, facilities, and equipment. 4.4 (4.62)
50. The agency provides, coordinates, and evaluates the effectiveness of programs and services. 4.5 (4.04)
51. The agency has a qualified technology staff to meet the technological needs of the agency and the schools/systems it serves. 4.6 (4.67)
52. The agency provides a modern, fully functional technology infrastructure to meet the teaching, learning, and operational needs of all stakeholders. 4.6 (4.50)
53. Agency personnel routinely collect data concerning needs, and use the resulting data to develop and implement a technology plan to continuously improve technology services, infrastructure, and equipment. 4.6 (4.26)
Standard 5 – Using Results for Continuous Improvement
54. The agency has a comprehensive evaluation system that includes multiple assessment measures for all programs and services. 5.1 (3.82)
55. The agency uses constituent schools/systems feedback and performance data to identify opportunities for improvement. 5.1 (4.43)
56. The agency’s improvement plan is based on data. 5.1 (4.26)
57. Agency staff systematically collect, analyze, and use multiple data sources. 5.2 (4.14)
58. Data is used to design, implement, and evaluate plans to improve the effectiveness of agency programs and services. 5.2 (4.05)
59. Agency leadership monitors information about student learning statistics and progress of agency improvement goals. 5.3 (4.13)
60. Agency leadership communicates information about progress of agency improvement goals to stakeholders. 5.3 (4.00)
Additional Questions
61. What do you like BEST about our agency?
62. What do you like LEAST about our agency?
63. What is one suggestion that you would like to offer to improve our agency?